Best Home Remedies Blog

We all know that poor posture can lead to back pain, headaches, sore muscles and just makes us look bad. But were you aware that it reduces lung capacity, causes musculoskeletal disorders, puts a strain on our internal organs and even leads to a loss of confidence and depression?

Surprise, the consequences of neglecting the way we hold ourselves goes far beyond temporary.

Often the concept of good posture is warped because it was explained poorly or not explained at all. “Stand Up Straight!” isn’t exactly specifically descriptive. So what is correct posture?

To understand correct posture is to understand and be conscious of body alignment.

Aesthetically, if you look at a body from the side and they are standing correctly, you should be able to draw a straight line through the ear, shoulder, hip, knee and ankle. It sounds easy, but training your body to stay that way is much harder than you think.

Once you’ve developed poor posture, it’s an unconscious habit. Our core muscles begin to weaken from lack of use and our neck and back begin feeling the strain from the unsupported weight of our body. Studies have shown that with proper posture the average human head weighs approximately 10-12 lbs, but once your posture begins to slump, the weight the neck is forced to carry increases up to 42 lbs.

For some perspective, let’s see what else weighs approx. 42 lbs:

• a cooler full of ice
• a medium sized pit bull
• a 3 year old child
• 5 gallons of water
• and a 15 foot canoe

Our necks weren’t made to withstand that weight!

What’s good posture supposed to feel like?

Starting from the top, the head should feel as if it were being pulled straight up from the crown, lengthening your neck. It should not be jutting forward or pulling back causing muscle strain.

Shoulders should not be forced into a military posture or pulled up toward your ears, they should be relaxed and in line between your ears and hips. Try rolling them backwards once and relaxing with arms by your side, thumbs facing forward, and feel the difference.

The spine should be lengthened naturally as you feel the imaginary pull straight upward from your head, aligning itself into it’s three natural curves.

Hips should be square, which means even with your shoulders and level with one another. Your pelvis ideally sits in a neutral position. A neutral pelvis is a term you will hear often in pilates or other core focused exercise, and describes the natural position between tucked under and arched backward.

Knees and legs should be straight, but not locked. Locking your legs leads to joint and muscle problems as well as puts an imbalanced strain on the rest of you body.

Keep your feet apart and even with your hips with your feet straight forward. You weight should be balanced equally between the ball (front) and heel of your feet.

This position is not only ideal for our health, but also is how we are at our most natural! Neglecting our posture is painful, and Roger Sperry, a renown psychobiologist, tells us that as we distort our spine through poor posture, lung capacity reduces as much as 30%, reducing the amount of oxygen available to the brain and the rest of the body. Less oxygen means less energy for thinking, metabolic function and healing.

A Reflection of Ourselves

Beside the physical limitations associated with poor posture, how we hold our bodies is also a reflection of how we and others view us.  Imagine yourself interviewing a job candidate, they are confident and appear personable, professional and well qualified. How are they standing? They aren’t slouching or lazily hunched over waiting to hear their name. Of course not. How we carry and conduct ourselves reflect our level of self confidence, while in reverse, our posture is an indication of depression and poor attitude that we may in turn take on as real attributes of our personalities.

What Can We Do About Poor Posture?

Just standing up straight right now isn’t going to last without some work. As will all quality solutions when it comes to health and well being, maintaining good posture is a long term effort.

• Core Strengthening: Strengthening the abdominal wall and back muscles will make correct posture much easier. These muscles are responsible for holding your spine in place. Without them, our overall health would quickly decline. Taking a pilates or yoga class is a great start to understand and improve your body’s alignment.
• Look Into Ergonomics: How we work, and how much we work, has a lot to do with posture. Just making sure your desk and chair are adjusted properly so that your feet sit on the floor and you don’t have to lean forward, straining your neck and back, just to see the computer screen can make the difference between weary pain and a productive day at work. Standing up and stretching and walking once an hour or so to improve circulation and avoid stiff joints will keep you aware of your body.

Whatever you do, do it now. The effects of poor posture are accumulative, so the longer you let it go the more you’ll have to do to correct it.

Annalise Proctor, an avid reader, writer and Chicago transplant, with a extensive experience in dance and gymnastics through which she gained knowledge and experience attaining and maintaining body awareness. She loves sharing what she has learned over the years and promoting physical and mental long term wellness through contributing to a modern medical practice’s blog in her area.

If you are starting to feel the symptoms of a cold or flu coming on; there are some great at home methods of combating it with every day foods.  We all know the hype about oranges and the amount of vitamin C that they pack, but it does not contain the highest amount available in foods. Keep in mind that the intake of vitamin C will not cure the cold or flu, but can shorten the length of time and the severity of the cold or flu.

In the search for vitamin C rich foods it is surprising to find that not only is vitamin C found in fresh fruits but, many fresh vegetables are high in the nutrient as well. This much needed nutrient is not only good for helping with the common cold and flu; it also boosts the immune system to help us stay health year around.

Let’s begin by taking a more in-depth look at some of the super fruits that can help with the symptoms of a cold or flu and the other great affects that they have. The papaya is a one of the tasty treats on the list that not only taste wonderful; it has the ability to help clear the sinuses. Just one cup of the tasty fruit offers 88.3 mg of vitamin C. Other significant affects of this tropical fruit is that it can brighten the skin and give strength to the bone. One can enjoy this healthy fruit by combining it with some other great fruits and yogurt to make a tropical parfait.

Pineapples are a great source of vitamin C and also contain the enzyme bromelain which acts to break down food and aids in reduced bloating. Bromelain works as a natural anti-inflammatory which could be handy for those that enjoy rigorous workouts and are looking for a quicker recovery time. Pineapple is very versatile in the aspect of cooking which makes it a great choice on the list of super fruits.

Kiwi is another unexpected treasure in the search for vitamin C having 137.2 mg in just two fruits; that is 50% more than that found in a medium sized orange.  This little fuzzy fruit is also very rich in potassium; another nutrient that is much needed in the human body. Combine these with shrimp, cilantro, and a few other ingredients to enjoy an awesome kiwi, shrimp salad while nursing the symptoms of a cold.

For those that like to spice things up; adding a half cup of chili peppers to their meal can give them 107.8 mg of vitamin C to help with the symptoms. The chili pepper is more than just an added spice; it contains capsaicin; the compound that makes it hot and can help with the relief of knee joint pain or muscle pain.   Many people are counting calories on a daily basis so; they will be thrilled to know that they can get a solid amount of vitamin C from a serving of broccoli at only 30 calories.  Additionally, persons needing more fiber will benefit from the wealth of it provided in broccoli. Research has shown that broccoli may also provide cancer prevention properties.

These super foods are not a guarantee for what ails you, but they have the capabilities of helping and easing the process. This is just a snippet of the great foods that are readily available to work as home remedies in nursing colds, relaxing a painful leg muscle, and giving support to the immune system.  Remember that eating, being, and living healthy isn’t just for those on a diet.

Donna has been a nurse in the aged care place for the past 16 years and three of these with DearJane were she creates much needed support and comfort products herself for this market.

If you suffer from migraines, you will know how miserable they can be. Migraines are a debilitating condition. They can come without warning and last for several days at a time. The pain is unbearable. It feels like there is a vice around your head and any movement provokes intense nausea. Strong painkillers can help, but often they only take the edge off the pain. So if migraines are making you miserable, can acupuncture help?

Common Triggers for Migraines

There are many things that can trigger a painful attack of migraine. Diet, hormone levels and physical stimuli can all cause a migraine headache to develop. Stress and excitement is a common trigger, as is tiredness and a lack of sleep. Many women also suffer from migraines because of fluctuating levels of estrogen. Dietary triggers include chocolate and caffeine.

What are the Main Symptoms of Migraine Headaches?

The painful headache is the main symptom of a migraine, but some people experience visual disturbances prior to a headache developing. Flashing lights and strange shapes on the periphery of your vision appear and can last up to an hour. It is also common to feel extremely tired in the aftermath of a migraine.

Is there a Cure for Migraines?

There is no cure for migraines, so treatments concentrate on relieving symptoms. Over the counter painkillers can help ease the pain, but they need to be taken very early on or they won’t work. Triptan medications can also be effective for some people. These cause the blood vessels in the brain to narrow, which reverses the dilation process that occurs during a migraine attack. Anti inflammatory medicine is another line of treatment.

How Effective Is Acupuncture for Migraine?

Because medications don’t always work, it can be helpful to try other treatments. Acupuncture has been found to work for some people. Studies have shown that regular acupuncture treatments can help reduce the number of migraine attacks as well as the severity of each attack. You probably won’t notice any immediate effect from acupuncture, but two treatments per week for at least three months will help you decide whether acupuncture is effective for you.

Isn’t It All In The Mind?

Studies carried out using traditional Chinese Acupuncture and a placebo group found that patients in both groups reported a positive effect from regular acupuncture sessions. This would suggest that to a certain extent, acupuncture is ‘in the mind’. But those who have tried it and found that it works would disagree. It could be that patients who have tried acupuncture before and had positive results are influenced by their experiences. It is also possible that a positive recommendation from a doctor is also enough to persuade a patient that the treatment will work.

Research suggests that acupuncture is most effective when used in conjunction with other migraine treatments such as painkillers and triptans. It is probably a good idea to try self-help treatments such as diet modifications in the first instance, but if these don’t work, consider trying acupuncture and painkillers in tandem.

The author of this article Annie Russell, works as an intern at CT Acupuncture Center, leading acupuncture specialists in Norwalk, CT. Annie is passionate about fashion and likes to stay up-to-date with the latest trends.

Exercise. It’s something we all need to do in order to remain fit and healthy, but it’s something we also make every excuse in the world not to do. Most people will claim they don’t have time to exercise, or they simply find it boring and would rather spend their time doing something else—anything else.

If you dread working out because you get bored, the following are six ways to change your routing and make exercise fun and interesting.

1. Don’t exercise alone.

Exercising by yourself can be boring, especially when you’re left alone with just your thoughts. You start to focus on the physical pain, which typically results in you ending your sessions earlier than planned. A great way to make exercising interesting is to do it with someone else. Having a friend or family member (or even a group of people) with you can make it much more entertaining. Each of you will be there to push each other to finish the workout, and you can even talk with one another to help the time go by faster or even take the focus off the pain or activity.

2. Join a class.

If your exercise routine revolves around doing some cardio or weight training in your own home, it will get boring fast. You’ll end up becoming distracted by something else, or you’ll just keep putting it off until you eventually give up hope. A great way to combat this is to join a class. There are so many options out there for you to choose from that you can easily join something that interests you. You can take a cycling class, a yoga class or even a Zumba class. All of these will be much more exciting than your own personal workout, and you’ll have a group of people there to talk with and help keep you entertained.

3. Publicize your goals.

Sure, you may get annoyed when you read a Facebook status that says “at the gym”, and maybe you don’t want to be that person, but publicizing your goals can make exercise more fun. For example, set small goals for yourself, such as increasing your running distance or simply working out so many days a week. Then, share that goal with other people, whether in person or through social media. Now you’ve made a public commitment to your goal, and since most people don’t want to look like failures, the publicity of their goal can help keep you motivated.

4. Listen to audio books.

Most people prefer to listen to music when they workout, and that’s a great way to stay upbeat. However, if you want to make your exercise routine more interesting, consider listening to an audio book instead. With music, you don’t really have to pay attention to what’s being said or what song is playing. With an audio book, you do. Listening to an audio book will force you to pay attention to something else other than the workout routine, and you may become so enamored with the book that you don’t even realize how much exercise you’ve done. Find a book that you’ve always wanted to read and try listening to it when working out. You may just find your best motivation.

5. Find someplace with great scenery.

Running on a treadmill in your basement is less exciting than running through an open field or forest preserve. Get outside and find someplace in your neighborhood with great scenery. This is a great way to change your atmosphere, and you’ll start to focus more on your surroundings than the exercise, which can be extremely beneficial to your routine.

6. Get exercise in unique ways.

Instead of forcing yourself to get out there and exercise, why not try to get exercise in a unique (and hidden) way. For example, when you’re shopping, start parking your car far away from the door so you’re forced to walk. Take the stairs instead of taking the escalator. Go for a leisure bike ride with your family. Take a walk around your neighborhood and take scenic pictures. Do some yard work; sign up for a 5k; do anything that requires physical activity. This way, you’ll be getting the exercise you need without even realizing it.

Allison True is a busy mom of three, a freelance writer and a fitness fanatic. Allison aspires to see a healthier world and contributes by writing fitness and nutrition articles.

Ayurveda is an ancient form of medical science which supports holistic views of wellness. It balances the energy components to enhance one’s beauty quotient. Most of the people these days are resorting to Ayurvedic treatments for healthy hairs, as it has some of the long held secret treatments for thinning and breaking hair. It has gained immense popularity throughout the world for it natural and effective way of treatment.

Hair is a very important part of the body, which enhances its beauty quotient. According to Ayurveda, the health of our hair depends on the proper functioning of the dhatus or tissues. The nutrient plasma produced from the digestion of food nourishes the dhatus, so healthy nutrient plasma will result in healthy hairs. Read on to discover some of the best Ayurvedic tips to improve the health of your hair and promote hair growth.

Ayurvedic Tips for Hair Growth

1. Excess of pitta dosha in the body leads to poor hair health. The first step is to locate the root cause that might be the main reason for pitta dosha. Pitta is increased by excessive intake of tea, coffee, alcohol, meat, excessive consumption of oily and spicy food and smoking. Include high protein, raw vegetables and fruits, salads and green leafy vegetables in your diet to promote hair growth. You can also drink juice extracted from the leaves of spinach and lettuce to stimulate hair growth. Take 1/3rd cup of aloe vera juice and mix it with a pinch of cumin. Drink it daily for three months to get thick and strong hairs.

Sesame is rich in magnesium and calcium, which promotes hair growth. A spoon of sesame seeds every morning can also prevent hair loss. Consuming yoghurt every day can also boost hair growth. Green leafy vegetables are rich in fiber and works amazingly well in treating hair fall. Drink plenty of water to flush out toxins.

2. Our body produces natural oil to keep the hair strands well-conditioned. Hence, avoid using harsh shampoos and soap which may strip off this natural oil from the scalp. Always use a natural shampoo. Amla and shikakai are very good for washing hairs.

3. Massaging scalp with natural hair nutrients herbs helps rejuvenate  hair roots that in turn promotes new hair follicles growth. A good hair massage increases blood circulation in that area to promote hair growth. Coconut oil is the best oil for massaging. You can also try medicated oils like Neelibhringadi, Kunthala Kanthi, and Kanjunnyadi oil. Put some oil on the scalp and massage gently till the roots. Head massage also reduces stress, tension and headache.

4. Regular exercise and yoga could be very useful in balancing the aggravated doshas. Yoga and meditation increases blood circulation and keeps the body healthy and rejuvenated. Inverted asana such as Sarvangasana helps reverse the gravity on the body and stimulates blood flow in the hairs which cures hair problems. Deep breathing exercise and medication can control stress.

5. Soak some fenugreek seeds with coconut oil and keep it under the sun for seven days. Apply this oil to the scalp and leave it overnight. This will prevent hair fall and will promote hair growth. You can also soak two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds overnight in water and grind it to a fine paste. Apply it on the scalp and leave it for half an hour. Wash it thoroughly and let it dry.

6. You can also take Ayurvedic medicines and supplements to improve your hair quality. Usage of Ayurvedic medicines such as Thikthakam kashayam, Thikthakam ghritham as   doctor’s advice can improve hair growth. Ayurvedic tonics such as Narasimha rasayanam and Chyavana prasam are also good to maintain healthy hairs.

7. Bhringraj is believed to be the king of herbs as it contains properties which promote hair growth and reverse balding and premature graying. Prepare a paste from the leaves and apply it to your scalp. Leave it for 20 minutes and then wash it. You can also make a paste by mixing two tablespoons of dried bhringraj powder and mix it with five to six tablespoon of warm water. Apply the paste on the hair and wash it after 20 minutes. It will also help keep the mind calm and promotes sound sleep. It can also be taken internally to stimulate rejuvenation.

8. Brahmi is one of the best age old treatments to promote hair growth. It is known to strengthen the roots and stop hair fall. Apply a paste of fresh brahmi leaves on your scalp and leave it for 20 minutes. You can also use powdered brahmi leaves, soaked in warm water. Brahmi hair oil is also available in the market to treat hair fall problem. It can be mixed with curd and applied. This will improve the hair texture and quality.

9. Amla, Indian gooseberry is loaded with vitamin C and anti-oxidants, which is very beneficial for hair growth. Its powdered can be used along with curd to make an amazing hair pack. This pack will promote thick and black hairs. Reetha is another natural ingredient to promote hair growth. It effectively cleanses the hairs without striping the natural oils from the scalp. Thus it keeps the hair and scalp moisturized and shiny. You can use reetha to massage the scalp.

10. Ayurveda uses natural cleaning herbal solution to get rid of dandruff and other toxins. Dandruff and itchy scalp often hinders hair growth and can even lead to severe hair fall. Neem contains anti-bacterial properties which fights dandruff and lice. Make a paste of fresh neem leaves soaked with amla powder. Apply it on the scalp and wash it after 20 minutes. You can drink neem juice or use it as a hair pack to get rid of dandruff. You can also boil a handful of fresh neem and strain the infusion. Leave it aside to let it cool. Wash your hair with this strain to get healthy and nourished hair.

These ayurvedic tips for fast hair growth will definitely help you to flaunt long and lustrous hair in no time. Don’t forget to leave a comment below. Stay fit, stay healthy!

References:

http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/hair-regrowth-ayurveda/

This is Chetana, an Amateur Makeup artist from India and Founder of StyleCraze.com – India’s largest beauty network. I am completely addicted to Makeup & beauty especially the Colour play and the process involved.

Glowing skin portrays a healthy lifestyle where as dull, lifeless skin symbolizes ill health and sickness. Skin like other parts of the body needs to be taken care of every day. But, why punish it by using chemical laden products when there are several natural, safer and cheaper ways of getting glowing skin at home? Following are 10 simple home remedies which can help you achieve a glowing and flawless skin with regular application.

1.  Take 2 tsp of oatmeal powder and add quarter spoon of cinnamon powder to it. Add 2 tsp of milk and make a fine paste. Apply it on the face and neck area, and leave it for 15 minutes. Splash cool water on the face and scrub your face gently in circular motion. Rinse it off and pat dry. Both oatmeal and cinnamon are rich in antioxidants which promote cell growth to give you a flawless skin.

2.  Fruits are the cheapest and safest ingredients to pamper your skin. Papaya contains beta hydroxyl acid which acts as an exfoliant to remove the top layer of dead skin cells and gives you a radiant skin. Mix mashed banana with pulp of papaya, and add a tsp of honey to it. Apply it on the face and wash it after half an hour.

3.  Orange peel contains vitamin C and antioxidants which acts as an astringent and skin toning agent. Take equal quantities of gram flour and orange peel powder and mix with raw milk. Apply this paste all over the face and leave it for half an hour. Rinse your face with cold water and pat dry. This face pack will effectively remove all the accumulated dirt and pollutants from the face to give you a healthy skin.

4.  Tomato contains lycopene, an antioxidant which provides protection against sun rays and removes tan and pigmentation. Mix tomato juice and cucumber juice in equal quantities and apply it on the face using a cotton ball. Leave it for 20 minutes and rinse it with cold water.

5.  Soak 4 to 5 almonds and leave it overnight. Remove their skin and grind them to a fine paste. Add 1 tsp of milk and 4 tsp of lemon juice to it. Mix well and apply it on your face. Wash it after 20 minutes and pat dry. Apply this face pack thrice a week to get fair and glowing skin.

6.  Mix 1 tsp of besan, 1/2 tsp of turmeric powder, 1 tsp of rose water and 1 tsp of lemon juice to make a smooth paste. Apply this on the face and leave it to dry. Wash it off with water and pat dry. This face pack will surely give a smooth and glowing skin.

7.  Take 3 to 4 strawberries and mash them using a fork. Apply the pulp on the face and leave it for 20 minutes. Strawberries are abundant in vitamin C and are slightly acidic in nature which will give you smooth and glowing skin.

8.  Soak 2 to 3 tsp of methi seeds overnight and grind them to a fine paste. Apply it on the face and let it stay for 15 minutes. Remove the pack while slowly massaging your skin in circular motion. The granular effect will remove blackheads and whiteheads, and will also control excess oil secretion. Regular application of this face pack will give you soft and glowing skin.

9.  Take equal amount of lemon juice and honey, mix it well and apply it on your face. Leave it for 10 to 15 minutes and then wash off. Lemon bleaches the skin to remove tan, spots and pigmentation while honey moisturizes and add a glow to the face.

10.  Soak some masoor dal in water, leave it overnight and grind it to a fine paste. Mix some curd to this paste and apply it all over the skin. Leave it for some time and when it dries completely, scrub the paste gently from the skin. This will give an instant glow to your face and improve the skin tone as well with regular usage.

The above mentioned packs are proven natural packs which help you to maintain healthy glowing skin without added chemicals. Don’t forget to leave us a comment below. Be fit, stay healthy!

References:

http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/simple-home-remedies-for-glowing-skin/

This is Chetana, an Amateur Makeup artist from India and Founder of StyleCraze.com – India’s largest beauty network. I am completely addicted to Makeup & beauty especially the Colour play and the process involved.

Have you ever been at home and found yourself with an aching tooth? If you are ever unable to get a dentist appointment right away, or make it to the store for pain medication, or simply feel like being resourceful with household items you have laying around, here are a few tips to help accomplish some simple, do-it-yourself home dental care in the mean time:

Baking soda

Nearly everyone has this common household item lying around in the pantry. Grab some baking soda, and moisten the tip of a cotton swab. Once you have done this, dip the moistened end of the cotton swab into the baking soda, and rub it liberally around the pained area, as well as on the aching tooth in question. Baking soda is often used in dental care, whether it is for pain-relief, tooth cleaning, or even whitening. Another baking soda option is to take a heaping spoonful of it and mix it into a glass of lukewarm water. Swish this water around in your mouth, and spit it out when you are finished.

Ice packs

If you have an ice pack, or even a bag of frozen peas or corn, cover it in a thin cloth or hand towel. Place the pack on your jaw, in the general area of pain. The coolness of the ice pack will help subside inflammation, and might help swelling go down. It will also act to somewhat numb the pained area so it is not so apparent, and help take away some of that agonizing annoyance that comes along with a tooth ache.

Salt water, hydrogen peroxide, and alcohol

All of these items can be swooshed around inside your mouth to help cleanse the infected, painful area, as well as help to subside the pain. For the salt water, take a heaping spoonful of salt, and mix it into a glass of lukewarm water. Swish it around your mouth, and make sure to spit it out. The same goes for the peroxide: after swishing it around, spit it out. The peroxide can be used straight from the bottle, or mixed with some water to help with the terrible taste. Grandma’s old go-to dental care, alcohol (such as brandy or whiskey), can also be used by swishing with it or rubbing it on the aching tooth.

It is important to know that there is a reason for your toothache—perhaps you accidentally chipped it, or there might be an infection, cavity, or even gum disease or some other malady. Although these home remedies provide a quick fix for an aching tooth when other options aren’t readily available, it is important to eventually seek the proper dental care from a professional. Making sure that your teeth remain well taken care of will help ensure that you have a beautiful smile—and a healthy mouth—for many years to come. In the mean time, sooth the annoyance and pain of that aching tooth with these helpful home remedies.

Sarah Smith is an avid health and nutrition blogger. She’s currently working with Cornerstone Dental Langley to help educate the public about preventative dental care and health.

The holidays can be an exciting time to share with family and friends, but a little too much partying can completely wipe you out. Once the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and celebrations is complete, it’s time for you to recover. The following are six tips to help you recover from your holiday celebrations.

1. Start working out.

So the thought of sweating and getting physical may not sound enjoyable to you right now, but it’s a great way to recover from the holidays. In most cases, the over-enjoyment of the holidays probably adding a little bit to your waistline, and this may cause you to become depressed or angry. Instead of becoming mad, start working out. Getting in a good workout every day (or at least a few times a week) will help you to shed that holiday weight, get into shape and even raise your energy levels. So don’t keep putting it off and instead get working on your fitness.

2. Start cleaning.

There’s something about a clean house that puts everyone in a good mood. Although you may want to put off cleaning up after the recent festivities, having a clean home can be just the trick to helping you recover. Get your family involved in the process too so that it doesn’t take as long. Make sure to throw away any garbage, and then do some deep cleaning of the floors and countertops. Once the house is in pristine condition and smelling wonderful, you can sit back and enjoy some leisure activities.

3. Donate your excess gifts.

Sometimes friends and family members can go overboard with presents, leaving you with items you either don’t want or simply can’t use. Instead of shoving these excess gifts in the closet for the next few years, take them to a local non-profit organization and donate them. There are plenty of needy people in the world that could benefit from that item, and it will do much more good in their hands than in your closet. Plus, knowing that you helped someone in need will certainly put you in a good mood.

4. Do something you love.

We are often so consumed with doing things for others during the holidays that we forget about ourselves. In order to recover from your holiday celebrations, do something just for you. Maybe you want to enjoy a nice day at the spa, or maybe you simply want to scrapbook, sew or take on your other favorite hobbies. Getting to spend the day doing what you love and not worrying about other people can help to relax your mind and recover from the stresses of the holidays.

5. Go on a vacation.

Sometimes the best way to recover is to get away for a few days. Maybe you want to head somewhere exotic and warm, or maybe you just want to head away to that local bed and breakfast. It doesn’t matter where you go or what you do as long as it’s something you’ll enjoy. Those few days away from reality can be just what you need to get back to normal.

6. Try a few hangover cures.

If you celebrated way too much the night before, you’ll be hurting today. Don’t let a brutal hangover ruin the rest of your holiday spirit. Instead, try to find the best way to cure a hangover. Some believe French Onion Soup will cure the hangover while others insist on Italian pasta carbonara. Try out some different options and find the one that works best for you. Then, get on your merry way.

Without wanting to make light of it, stress is annoying. We’re programmed to respond to any kind of frightening or worrying situation by attacking it or running away, which is programming that’s a million or so years out of date. When your problem is money, or work, or family issues, neither running away from or attacking anyone is going to help you one bit, so you just sort of get a bit shaky and tense and unable to concentrate on anything because concentrating on things isn’t running away or fighting anything.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways to work around that instinct, and calm yourself down to a point where you can actually be useful again.

Repetitive Movement

Any repetitive movement that doesn’t requires careful attention can be soothing. Knitting and needlepoint are favourites because you need to think about what you’re doing in the moment, so you don’t need to think your bank balance your to do list while you’re doing it. Knitting circles are a great way to do this as it gives you a chance to socialise while you’re calming yourself down.

Enjoyable Exercise

It doesn’t matter what the exercise is, the fact is that it increases endorphins and gets rid of all those pesky fight or flight reflexes. However, the important thing is it’s exercise you enjoy. If a run around the lake seems like a nice, relaxing way to spend your time, do it. If that just sounds like more slog in a time when it feels like you have more than enough slog, then find a form of exercise that you do enjoy.

Music That You Enjoy

You don’t have to listen to whale song to use music to chill you out (although you can if you like that kind of thing). Just listen to music that has good associations for you, whether it’s rap, power ballad or classical music. The important thing is that it has good associations. Now isn’t the time to listen to that album of tragic folk songs that always make you cry.

Sleep

It’s amazing how much benefit a good night’s rest can do you. By simply making sure you get to bed early and enjoy a good eight hours you can immeasurably improve the way you feel the next day.  You’ll be surprised how many of the symptoms of stress can actually just be the result of running up a sleep debt.

Food

Another surprisingly effective way of lowering your stress levels is to simply eat a good meal – the symptoms of stress and hunger can look really similar sometimes, and if you’re already feeling stressed out the chances are you’ve probably missed  a meal or two already. You might not even feel like eating, but sitting down to a hearty meal is a good way to fuel yourself for the day’s hardships.

See Your Doctor

If you’ve been feeling stressed for an extended length of time it can have a detrimental effect on your health, physical and mental. If this is becoming a prolonged problem it’s worth talking to a professional, be it a counsellor or doctor, to try and get to the root of your problems.

Sam Wright is a freelance writer with a particular interest in mental health issues who works with East Sussex Counsellors.

If you do an online search for first aid courses being offered online, you’ll probably run into a few hundred websites that offer you a certification without having to attend a physical course. The fair majority of the websites will claim that people will be able to receive a complete certification after watching a couple of first aid course videos online after which they will have to take a short exam. If they pass the exam with 80% marks the certificate is sent to their doorstep. However, the billion dollar question is if these courses are really worth it? Are they even worth the paper they are printed on?

You need to be there physically

First aid is a physical and practical practice of saving someone’s life using an array of methods. These methods include CPR, artificial resuscitation etc. Also, the courses need to be conducted by a certified instructor who himself will be there to instruct people on particular procedures, and correct them during the class. All of this is not possible if you take a course online. This is why the first aid course online that you’re considering may not be worth it. Even though you may have a certificate that states you attended a class you’ll not know anything when you find yourself in a life and death certification. So, in most cases it’s safe to say that these courses are more scam than anything else.

It should include CPR

Now that we have established that you cannot take a basic or even a refresher course online, the next thing to consider what your offline course should include. It is important to mention at this point that many basic offline first aid training courses do not include important aspects of training like CPR and artificial resuscitation. Those that do often breeze through both of them which leaves students mystified.

The first step to learning CPR or the Basic 1 as some courses refer to it is chest compressions. Learning how to do chest compressions can be slightly tricky for people who have never done it before but takes under an hour to learn and then practice to perfection. Make sure that if you’re a fresher that the course include chest compressions. The Basic 2 of CPR is artificial resuscitation or mouth to mouth resuscitation. Courses that often include both of them in the same class will mostly breeze through which is not suited for newbies.

Check the instructor’s references

If a first aid instructor has been around for a considerable period of time then he or she would have trained a large number of people. You should be aware of instructors who say they have lots of experience but have just two or three references. Make sure that you follow up on the reverences. In addition, go online and search using the instructor’s name to find out what people are saying about him or her online. This should give you a fairly good idea of what you can expect from him.

If you are searching for a first-aid course training instructor online make sure to ask for both online and offline references in your city. This will save you from getting conned by people who are not even first aid experts to begin with but use the internet to take advantage of unsuspecting people.

Attend a sample class

One last step before you decide to enroll a first-aid training course you may have seen online is to attend a sample class. You can also get permission to watch a class which is in session to get a feel for how attentive, helping and knowledgeable the instructor is. If the instructor answers all the questions that students have, and help correct mistakes on the fly then it’s safe to say that the instructor is good enough. However, in some cases if the first aid course is not being offered by a large government hospital you may have to negotiate the rate. This is especially the case if you’re hiring the instructor to pay your company a visit and teach all the employees there the basics of first aid, they will usually charge you by the hour.

Mark is a certified first aid training instructor with over two decades of experience. He has taught hundreds of regular people and even military personnel first aid. This is why he is often referred to as the ‘go to’ guy for everything first aid related.